Scoop! Nissan to export made-in-Chennai e-Evalia to Bhutan

Renault-Nissan’s Oragadam plant on the outskirts of Chennai is set to be one of the first plants globally to produce the electric version of the Evalia MPV – the e-Evalia. It will manufacture the vehicle which will then be exported to Bhutan. Later, it may also serve the domestic market.

Top sources have said the battery pack and powertrain for the vehicle will be imported from Nissan’s plant in Barcelona, Spain. The OEM is considering this move as it will be more feasible to import from India compared to other production bases of the Evalia.

It may be noted that Nissan revealed the production version of the e-NV200 yesterday at the Geneva Motor Show. The all-electric NV200 (the NV200 is the Evalia in India) has begun its production run at the Barcelona plant.

The Nissan Leaf, Nissan’s first EV in Bhutan, will be imported from Japan. The Japanese OEM plans to launch the e-Evalia in Bhutan as part of its portfolio to tap the opportunity made available by the Bhutan government’s goal of becoming a ‘zero-emissions nation’.

According to Andy Palmer, chief planning officer and executive vice-president responsible for zero emission vehicle planning & strategy, Nissan Motor Corporation, there will be three broad channels for Nissan’s EVs — a bespoke fleet for the government, standard retail and the taxi fleet. The electric Evalia could be targeted mainly at the taxi fleet.

Nissan also “intends” to have an assembly base in Bhutan. The facility may be used mainly to roll out an entry-level EV, which may be launched in a couple of years from now if feasibility studies provide a positive feedback.

Also read: Nissan reveals e-NV200 at Geneva Motor Show

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